Friday, October 12, 2012

Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan, the top surrogates for Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney, clashed mightily in a bruising give-and-take, with both men ardently trying to break open one of the closest U.S. presidential contests in recent history.

With less than a month before the Nov. 6 election, analysts on both sides of the deep partisan divide gripping the country were touting victory Friday after the one and only vice presidential debate. The confrontation ranged across a multitude of domestic and foreign policy issues facing the United States as it battles back from the deepest economic downturn in decades and scrambles to find a way forward in a newly chaotic world — especially the Middle East.

Biden was intent on reviving Democrats who were knocked off balance after Obama’s dismal showing last week in his first debate with Romney. In that regard, the 69-year-old vice president appeared to have succeeded.

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He swarmed over Ryan, a 42-year-old member of the House of Representatives. But many wondered if Biden’s aggressive style had not harmed the Democratic ticket’s standing with key undecided voters.